Showing papers in "Planetary and Space Science in 2006"

TL;DR: The ICE (Instrument Champ Electrique) experiment on board DEMETER is to provide a nearly continuous survey of the electromagnetic and/or electrostatic waves that may arise from the coupling of seismic activity with the upper atmosphere and ionosphere as discussed by the authors.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare the magnetic field experiment of the upcoming Venus Express mission with the long lasting Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) observations with respect to the solar wind interaction with Venus.

TL;DR: In this paper, a complex photochemical-meteorological-hydrogeochemical cycle of methane operates on Titan and it is shown that although photochemistry leads to the loss of methane from the atmosphere, conversion to a global ocean of ethane is unlikely.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the electronic block named BANT onboard the micro-satellite DEMETER, which is connected to an onboard memory and performs a comprehensive study of the Earth electromagnetic environment at the altitude of the satellite.

TL;DR: Instrument Sonde de Langmuir (ISL) as mentioned in this paper was designed for in situ measurements of the bulk parameters of the ionospheric thermal plasma, including electron density and temperature.

TL;DR: In this article, the positions and shapes of the bow shock and magnetic pile-up boundary, MPB, have been derived and modelled, using curve-fitting techniques, and the results obtained from the mixing of the Phobos 2 and Mars Global Surveyor, MGS data bases were compared with the ones obtained previously.

TL;DR: In this article, a capacitively coupled radio-frequency (RF) cold plasma system at low pressure in a N2-CH4 gaseous mixture was used to simulate the atmospheric chemistry and produce analogues of Titan's aerosols.

TL;DR: In this article, the first results of the electron spectrometer placed onboard the Demeter satellite have been obtained for the first time, showing that the low-energy component of the inner radiation belt (1.1 L 1.35 ) consists of the superposition of quasi-mono-energetic peaks as expected from the interaction of electrons with a large number of high-powered Earth-based VLF emitters in the frequency range 10-100 kHz distributed along the particle longitudinal drift around the Earth.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a diffusive-gravitational equilibrium and thermal balance model to model the formation of the early Venusian thermosphere and found that the upper atmosphere of the young Sun could have lost most of its H 2 O during the early high X-ray, EUV and solar wind period of the active young Sun.

TL;DR: The observation timelines for each phase were developed in a coordinated way to optimize the payload activity, maximize the overall mission science return, and to fit into the available mission budgets.

TL;DR: The instrument d'Analyse du Plasma (IAP) on board DEMETER provides a nearly continuous survey of the main parameters of the thermal ion population with two main objectives as discussed by the authors.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a gas dynamic test particle model and obtained average loss rates for H +, and O + pick up ions of about 1 × 10 25 s - 1 and about 1.6 × 10 24 s − 1, respectively.

TL;DR: In this article, a continuous global positioning system (GPS) ionospheric tomography above Europe, Japan and California will be performed with the Service and Products of ionosphere Electronic Content and Tropospheric Refractive index over Europe (SPECTRE) experiment.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented new and definitive results of Cassini plasma spectrometer (CAPS) data acquired during passage through Saturn's inner plasmasphere by the Cassini spacecraft during the approach phase of the Saturn orbit insertion period.

TL;DR: The Demeter project as discussed by the authors is the first application of the Myriade microsatellite program conducted by the Cnes (French Space Agency) since 1997, and the main scientific objectives are the detection and characterization of ionosphere electrical and magnetic disturbances in connection with a seismic activity.

TL;DR: Fei et al. as discussed by the authors used a viscosity parameterization at 1600 K to test the conditions for magnetic field generation in the core of the Earth and found that a dry mantle rheology can best explain the lack of a present-day dynamo.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the southern Thaumasia region especially on Warrego Valles and determine the organisation of valleys in relation to regional topography and structural geology.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the spectral properties of the Titan surface using the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIMS) data and showed that the spectrum of water ice contaminated with a darker material matches the reflectance of the lower albedo Titan regions if the spectral slope from 2.71 to 2.79mm in the poorly understood 2.8mm methane window is ignored.

TL;DR: In this article, a near-equatorial radial profile through the orbit of Enceladus shows a sharply peaked distribution at the satellite's orbit of the moon, which is consistent with previous optical measurements.

TL;DR: The Venus Express Radio Science Experiment (VeRa) uses radio signals at wavelengths of 3.6 and 13 cm to investigate the Venus surface, neutral atmosphere, ionosphere, and gravity field, as well as the interplanetary medium as discussed by the authors.

TL;DR: The Cassini plasma spectrometer (CAPS) instrument made measurements of Titan's plasma environment when the Cassini Orbiter flew through the moon's plasma wake October 26, 2004 (flyby TA). Initial CAPS ion and electron measurements from this encounter will be compared with measurements made by the Voyager 1 plasma science instrument (PLS).

TL;DR: In this paper, an investigation of the lower atmosphere in the 25-40 km altitude range from data of Venus' night side in the 2.3-μm region is presented.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the physics of the solar wind interaction on the threshold of a new series of Venus exploration missions and showed that the magnetic barrier on the inner edge of the magnetosheath plays a minor role in the deceleration and deflection of solar wind.

TL;DR: In this article, the electrostatic potential of E ring particles was measured using the charge-sensitive grid system of the cosmic dust analyser (CDA) on the Cassini spacecraft, which allows an in situ determination of the charge of grains bigger than 2.

TL;DR: In this paper, the analysis of VIMS images of the Huygens landing site acquired at TA and TB, with a spatial resolution ranging from 16 to 14.4 km/pixel, is presented.

TL;DR: A review of the progress in understanding of the composition of the Venus atmosphere since the publication of the COSPAR Venus International Reference Atmosphere volume in 1985 can be found in this paper.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors reanalyze the radially arrayed valleys on the flanks of Hecates Tholus, a Hesperian-aged shield volcano, and test the hypothesis that these valleys might have formed via basal melting of summit snowpack.

TL;DR: The SMC's data processing system, data server and methods of payload operation, and associated hardware and software architectures are described and presented.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the measured effects of two parameters, a CO2 atmosphere and low temperature, on the destruction rate of amino acids when irradiated with Mars-like ultraviolet light (UV).